Friday, February 19, 2010

Join the media's new wave in Wales

Journalists, photographers and media workers across Wales are looking for analternative to cutbacks, closures and redundancies, as newspaper proprietors andother local media providers struggle to meet the challenge posed by the collapse ofadvertising revenue in the face of the recession and the switch to online media.We've all read about it or seen it on TV. Some of us have personal experience. Themedia world is changing rapidly but it is not all bad news. This change is openingup new opportunities for us as media workers.

Quality local journalismLocal News South Wales (LNSW) is reversing the trend by setting up an exciting newvehicle for the provision of local news - a workers' co-operative for journalists,photographers and other media operatives, including freelance staff - with a view torunning not-for-profit local news networks across Wales, starting here in South WestWales and including both online and print publications.The intention is to focus on quality local news, something that is in increasinglyshort supply. LNSW will also help to train local news journalists.The co-op itself is already up and running, under a board of experienced localjournalists, with premises secured and a firm timetable for getting products tomarket - starting with a local news website for Port Talbot.Print publications may well follow, in line with the results of a comprehensivemarket research exercise that is now getting underway.

Good news you can be part ofInterested? Well, the good news is that it needn't cost you a fortune - a few poundswould make you a member of the co-op - and, as a member, you would have a big say inthe direction LNSW takes, as well as a chance to work for the co-op. All this costs money, of course, and what we are also seeking right now is hard cashto help us bring our vision to reality as quickly as possible, so all pledges ofsupport - no matter how large or small - would be more than welcome as start-upapproaches.

We would also like, where possible, any help you can provide voluntarily duringweekdays to help get our new office up and running smoothly. In the meantime, you can find out more about Local News South Wales at two specialmeetings we have arranged for members and supporters - one in the daytime and one inthe evening - where you can join the co-op, and find out more about the latest plansand proposals from the co-op, and how you fit in.

The first will be held on Monday, February 22, from 6.30pm at the Swansea Yacht andSub Aqua Club in East Burrows Road, Swansea; the second - a daytime meeting - willbe held in the next couple of weeks.

If you can't make it along then send us an email at localnewsporttalbot@nsasr.co.ukand we'll get back to you with more information about being part of the co-op.